Neglected Foot Overbridges in Dhaka Put Pedestrians at Risk

Published : Saturday, 16 August, 2025 at 1:55 PM Count : 409

Dhaka’s foot overbridges, built to provide pedestrians safe passage across the city’s busiest roads, are increasingly falling into neglect. Structural damage, illegal encroachment, poor lighting, and stalled repair projects have left many of these bridges unsafe or unusable, forcing pedestrians to risk their lives crossing roads at ground level.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) oversees 33 foot overbridges, but several are in dire condition.

At Shukrabad, the overbridge has been without functioning lights for more than 18 months. Pedestrians say it has become a hotspot for muggers and vagrants, especially after dark. “It feels unsafe to go over. Once, my friend and I went up, but some vagrant men were sitting there, staring at us unpleasantly. Frightened, we turned back and crossed below,” said pedestrian Farhana Ratna.

Police officers stationed nearby have also raised concerns. Sergeant Sajjad Ali said, “Even as men, we feel unsafe crossing alone — it is even more dangerous for women. The city corporation urgently needs to restore the lighting.”

Other DSCC bridges tell a similar story. The Panthapath bridge is littered with food waste and partially broken, while the Science Lab bridge has broken steps with exposed rods and no roof, making it slippery and dangerous during rain.

In New Market, a bridge dismantled 18 months ago for reconstruction remains incomplete, forcing thousands to cross through heavy traffic daily. The Balaka Cinema Hall bridge suffers from broken stairs and stagnant water, while the Shahbagh bridge is overrun by flower vendors and described by a local doctor as “entirely unusable.”

The large footbridge at Matsya Bhaban has become a shelter for the homeless during the day and a site for gambling and muggings at night. Meanwhile, Kakrail Junction— one of the busiest intersections— still has no footbridge at all.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), which manages about 60 overbridges, faces similar problems.

Farmgate’s overbridge, inaugurated in 2023 as the country’s second-largest, is now occupied by hawkers and makeshift shops. Two escalators installed there have never been operational, and at night, people sleep on them.

From Farmgate to Banglamotor, two consecutive bridges show a stark contrast: one is well-lit and in use, while the other is unlit and mostly deserted. The Paribagh bridge is avoided at night due to broken steps and pitch darkness. In contrast, the Banglamotor bridge, with working lights, remains one of the few that pedestrians trust.

Elsewhere, bridges at Malibagh Abul Hotel and Uttar Badda Bazar are clogged by hawkers and garbage, while the Bashtola bus stand bridge is nearly abandoned, used mainly as shelter by the homeless. At Gulshan–Bhatara police station junction, the narrow Notun Bazar bridge remains heavily congested by both vendors and pedestrians.

DSCC engineer Rajib Khadem acknowledged the problems and promised action. “We will inform the electrical division regarding the Shukrabad bridge lights. The broken parts of the Science Lab bridge will be repaired. We have already installed new roofs on several bridges where none existed before. The New Market bridge should be completed within three to four months,” he said.

He added that hawkers and unauthorized advertisements are removed periodically, but return once authorities leave. “New bridges will be introduced according to demand,” he said.

With both city corporations struggling to maintain their infrastructure, pedestrians continue to face daily risks. For many, choosing between unsafe overbridges and perilous road crossings is no choice at all.

FP/Raj